Cooking with Kids: Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Puff Candy

I love fun, easy recipes that the girls can help make--especially during the holidays. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Puff candies are ones that make often at Easter--and decided to decorate with red and green sprinkles this year to enjoy them for the holidays. We are peanut butter and chocolate fans—and the girls love any dessert loaded with sprinkles. These candies are quick and easy and turn out delicious (even if some are not so picture perfect) in less than ten minutes of preparation time.

Ingredients for Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Puff Candy 
About 30 Large Marshmallows (Most of a 10 oz. Package)
1 ½ c. Milk Chocolate Chips
¾ c. Creamy Peanut Butter
2 Tbsp. Unsalted Butter + a little extra Butter to grease the aluminum foil covered pan

Colored sprinkles, finely chopped peanuts or crushed pretzel pieces for decoration, if desired.
  
Instructions for Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Puffs

Prepare the desert pan.  Line a 9 inch square baking dish with aluminum foil.  Lightly butter the aluminum foil—making sure to butter both the bottom and the sides of the foil-lined pan.

Line up the marshmallows.  Place the marshmallows into the pan vertically, forming fairly straight rows so that when the chocolate coating hardens—the puffs can be neatly cut into squares. Pack the marshmallows in tightly enough to touch and stay upright when the chocolate/peanut butter mixture is poured over them!

Melt the chocolate and peanut butter.  I simply add the chocolate, butter and peanut butter to a medium saucepan and melt the chips over low heat—removing frequently from the heat and stirring constantly. You may certainly use a double boiler or opt to use the microwave and melt the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl until smooth.  Simply choose your usual chocolate melting method, and melt the chocolate, peanut butter and butter--stirring well to fully combine.

Cover the marshmallows and chill.  Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture evenly over the rows of marshmallows, spreading the chocolate with the back of a spoon to evenly coat the marshmallows.  Be sure to encourage the chocolate mixture to drizzle down the sides and fill in between the marshmallows where possible.  Sprinkle multi-colored or themed sprinkles, chopped peanuts or crushed pretzels over the warm chocolate immediately so that they stick in place.  Chill the dessert completely before serving—at least 3-4 hours.

Serve.  With a sharp knife, carefully cut between the marshmallow rows both vertically and horizontally to remove the individual Chocolate Peanut Butter Marshmallow Puff Candies.  Our marshmallow rows were a little less than perfect, so it was a little difficult to cut even, picture perfect puffs--but, the girls and the husband always think they are wonderful anyway!

These marshmallow candy pieces are super rich and taste a bit like a candy bar fudge recipe—without the measuring, boiling and temperamental candy thermometers!  I also think a chocolate mint variety would be a hit!

Enjoy!